Off-road e-bikes.

[Wildswimmer Pete]

I've seen a few of those dirt-bikes and thought would do me for green lanes across my nearby marshes, as although intended for youths they can be ridden by adults. Despite what I've heard from the police, electric 'crossers and minimotos fitted with pedals are limited to 250W and 14mph - in other words road-legal pedelecs.

It was only recently that parents in my area were threatened by the police that their son's electric minimoto would be seized and crushed, which is absolutely illegal. The small sit-on minimotos are defined as electric toys, although they be used under adult supervision. The full-size versions are legally electrically-assisted pedal cyles. For policemen who can't tell the difference, the petrol sort make lots of noise and smoke. The law doesn't apply to licence-exempt electric vehicles.

 

[flecc]

Although you are certainly right about the pedelec status, bear in mind that pedelecs have a 14 years lower age limit in the UK. That gives the police the confiscation right if any youngster under 14 years old is using one in areas subject to roads law, and some other public areas.

 

[Wildswimmer Pete]

I doubt the police have the ability to confiscate pedelecs because they are not motor vehicles. Pedelecs are classed as pedal cycles. I'd suspect enforcing the 14-year rule could be problematic as such because enforcement implies breaching the terms of a licence, and of course like pedal cycles, pedelecs are exempt from licensing.

Bear in mind that "toy" minimotos intended for young children are just that: toys. They can only travel at an adult's walking pace, although children should be always under adult supervision in public areas including pavements.

 

[flecc]

I'd suspect enforcing the 14-year rule could be problematic as such because enforcement implies breaching the terms of a licence, and of course like pedal cycles, pedelecs are exempt from licensing.

Enforcement is not in any way problematic. Riding a legal pedelec bike at under 14 years of age is against the law, Road Traffic Act 1987, and the police can temporarily confiscate the illegally ridden pedelec under that law to prevent it being ridden any further illegally. They are not entitled to crush it though, it would have to be available for subsequent collection.